.

>>> JENNIFER, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> SURE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.

AGAIN MY NAME IS JENNIFER LAMM, THE STRATEGIC MANAGER AT THE VETERANS AFFAIRS AGENCY, I HAVE THE GREAT LUXURY, THE GREATEST JOB IN THE STATE OF GOING AROUND AND TEACHING THE STATE OF MICHIGAN HOW AMAZING VETERANS ARE AND MAKING SURE THAT PLACES ARE READY FOR WHAT THE MICHIGAN VETERAN REALLY BRINGS, WHETHER IT'S SCHOOLS OR EMPLOYMENT OR THEIR COMMUNITY THEY LIVE IN OR EVEN HEALTH AND WELLNESS, WE BUILD INITIATIVES TO HELP ENHANCE THE FEDERAL PROGRAMMING, THE VETERANS HAVE EARNED.

>> GOT IT.

ALL RIGHT, AND DWAYNE?

>> I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER AT CMU.

THE VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER HAS TWO MAIN MISSIONS.

ONE IS TO HELP THOSE STUDENT VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS USING G.I.

BILL BENEFITS ON CAMPUS, INTERFACE WITH THE VA, THE BENEFITS GET PAID TO THEM, AND OTHER MISSION IS TO MAKE THE SAME BENEFICIARIES FEEL WELCOME ON CAMPUS SO THEY KNOW CMU IS THE PLACE FOR THEM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, BOTH FOR BEING HERE AND BRINGING YOUR KNOWLEDGE TO THE SHOW TONIGHT.

SO WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION OR MEDICAL WELL-NESS, JOB RELATED, WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS TONIGHT.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR GUESTS, THERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO TAKE PART IN THE CONVERSATION.

CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN RIGHT THERE, 844-975-3343.

WE ARE ALSO STREAMING ON FACEBOOK, SO YOU CAN POST YOUR COMMENT THERE AND MAKE SURE IT GETS TO OUR GUESTS THIS EVENING.

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO BE A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, THIS SHOW, TOPIC IS FUELED BY YOUR CALLS AND QUESTIONS.

SO DON'T HESITATE TO PICK UP THE PHONE, WE'RE HERE TO GET YOU ANSWERS.

SO DWAYNE AND JENNIFER, THIS SHOW IS VERY TIMELY, IT'S VETERANS DAY, A DAY TO HONOR ALL U.S. VETERANS, AND THANK YOU, BOTH FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND TO GO ALONG WITH THAT, I WANT TO FOLLOW UP TOO WITH SOME OF THE LESSONS THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR TIME AND SERVICE, AND HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO APPLY LESSONS TO PROFESSIONAL OR PERSONAL LIFE.

DWAYNE, START WITH YOU.

>> WELL, I RETIRED A COUPLE YEARS AGO FROM THE MICHIGAN ARMY NATIONAL GUARD.

>> OKAY.

>> WITH A TOTAL OF 37 YEARS SERVICE.

MOST OF THAT TIME IN THE GUARD.

I HAD THE BENEFIT OF HAVING BOTH THE MILITARY EXPERIENCE AND THE CIVILIAN EXPERIENCE.

AND I WAS ABLE TO LEARN SO MUCH FROM THE MILITARY ABOUT BEING ON TIME AND COMMUNICATING WITH TEAM THAT HELPED ME IN CIVILIAN LIFE.

MY CIVILIAN EXPERIENCE, ALWAYS IN EDUCATION, HELPED ME WITH HELPING TROOPS GET THEIR EDUCATION, GET TO COLLEGE, SPEAK WELL OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

SO I'VE HELPED A LOT OF STUDENTS BEFORE I HAD THIS JOB, GET THE EDUCATION AND BETTER THEMSELVES.

SO IT'S BEEN A TERRIFIC MIX.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SOUNDS LIKE IT.

>> HOW ABOUT YOU, JENNIFER?

>> I SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS FOR TEN YEARS, BUT TOOK OFF MY BOOTS IN 2002.

AT THAT TIME, I STILL REMAINED A MARINE AT HEART BUT REALLY HAD TO ADAPT TO WHAT THE REST OF THE WORLD LOOKED LIKE.

EVEN NOW WHEN I TELL PEOPLE I'M A MARINE, I'M NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE, IT HELPS ME UNDERSTAND WHAT VETERANS ARE GOING THROUGH BECAUSE WE DON'T ALWAYS LOOK WHAT YOU EXPECT THEY LOOK LIKE, THE STIGMAS AREN'T ALWAYS THERE.

WHEN I TRANSITIONED OUT OF THE MILITARY INTO THE CIVILIAN WORLD, THERE'S A COUPLE OF STEPS YOU HAVE TO TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND LAUNCH YOUR CAREER AND MOVE FORWARD.

I'M A SOCIAL WORKER AT HEART, AND A LOT OF WHAT I DO IS WORK WITH PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THE CONNECTIONS AND ABILITIES TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT THE BIGGEST THING MY SERVICE TAUGHT ME.

WE SHOW UP AND FIGURE IT OUT, HOW WE'RE GOING TO HELP OTHERS.

IF YOU DO THOSE THINGS, YOU ARE ALWAYS SERVING.

THAT'S WHERE MY SERVICE COMES IN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT MILITARY-CIVILIAN DIVIDE.

THERE'S GROWING RESEARCH THAT SAYS THAT THERE'S A GROWING DIVIDE BETWEEN CIVILIANS AND THE MILITARY BECAUSE -- I GUESS, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE CAUSES OR THE SOURCE OF THAT MILITARY-CIVILIAN DIVIDE AND HOW CAN WE START TO ADDRESS THAT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY, I THINK MOST PEOPLE HATE THAT DIVIDE.

I HATE THAT DIVIDE THAT HAPPENS, BECAUSE REALLY, WE'RE ALL SUPPOSED TO WORK TOGETHER AND LIVE IN THE SOCIETY TOGETHER, AND I THINK WHAT OFTEN HAPPENS WITH VETERANS IS THEY SEE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT MIGHT NOT BE CARRYING THEIR WATER OR DOING THINGS THE WAY THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING OR WHAT WAS EXPECTED BUT A LOT OF US WHEN WE REFLECT ON MILITARY SERVICE, THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T CARRYING THEIR WATER BACK THEN AND DON'T LIKE TO ADMIT THAT, BUT THERE BECOMES THE VETERANS ARE HERE AND THE CIVILIANS ARE NOT AS DISCIPLINED AND NOT AS ENGAGED, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF EDUCATION AND DONE A LOT, AND IT'S A MATTER OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO CONNECT AND HOW TO BUILD THESE STORIES AND TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THE TRUTH IS THERE'S PEOPLE THAT DON'T CARRY THEIR WATER EVERYWHERE YOU GO AND THE TRUTH IS THERE'S PEOPLE THAT WORK REALLY HARD AND NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE INTERACTING TOGETHER.

I HOPE THAT WOULD BREAK DOWN THE DIVIDE, I HOPE SO.

>> HAVING CONVERSATIONS, DEFINITELY.

WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM FACEBOOK.

THE PERSON IS 70% DISABLED.

THEY WANT TO KNOW CAN THEY GET A REDUCTION ON PROPERTY TAXES?

>> SO I CAN LOOSELY ANSWER THAT.

SO I DO KNOW THAT 100% DISABLED VETERANS QUALIFY FOR REDUCTIONS ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.

I COULDN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

THAT'S DEFINITELY A QUESTION THEY CAN TALK TO THEIR LOCAL ASSESSOR AND GET INFORMATION ON.

WE LIKE TO THINK THAT WE KNOW A LOT ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS BUT DEFINITELY NOT THE EXPERTS ON EVERY INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCE.

>> SURE, OKAY, I'M SURE EVERY CASE IS UNIQUE, RIGHT?

DO YOU HAVE -- ANOTHER QUESTION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

THIS IS SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY GET OFTEN.

DO YOU HAVE TIPS HOW TO TALK TO DO YOU HAVE TIPS HOW TO TALK TO FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR TIME IN SERVICE?

>> ARE THEY ASKING ABOUT HOW THE VETERAN CAN RELATE TO FAMILY MEMBERS OR ASKING QUESTIONS FROM FAMILY BE INS MEMBERS.

IF THEY WANT TO LEARN ABOUT A VETERAN'S EXPERIENCE, ASK THAT VETERAN TO TELL THEIR OWN STORY.

OFTEN, VETERANS HAVE EXPERIENCED THINGS THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO SHARE WITH THEIR FAMILY, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILY.

IT'S PROBABLY GOOD FOR THAT VETERAN TO SHARE THEIR STORY AND TELL THOSE STORIES TO FAMILY MEMBERS AND ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETIMES THREATENING FOR A FAMILY MEMBER OR SOMEONE TO ASK DIRECT QUESTIONS OF A VETERAN ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE OR WHAT THEY MAY HAVE DONE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT QUESTIONABLE TO MORAL STANDARDS, THAT THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED OF A VETERAN TO DO OR MILITARY MEMBER TO DO DURING WARTIME.

DURING WARTIME.

>> SURE, NEXT QUESTION IS A LOT OF TODAY'S MILITARY, SERVICEMEMBER, VETERANS, JOINED BECAUSE THEY HAD OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS THAT SERVED.

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION OR PURPOSE FOR JOINING THE MILITARY?

>> I THINK THAT QUESTION IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT CHANGES OVER TIME FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY.

WHEN I JOINED, I THOUGHT I JOINED ON A WHIM.

IT WAS SOMETHING I HEARD OF.

I WAS IN COLLEGE, I WAS POOR, COULDN'T AFFORD WHERE I WANTED TO GO.

AND I THOUGHT I JOINED ON A WHIM.

NOW WHEN I LOOK BACK, I REALIZE WAIT A SECOND, MY SISTER JOINED THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD.

MY FATHER WAS IN THE NAVY.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS IN THE ARMY AND OTHER GRANDFATHER IN THE NAVY.

AND WE ENCOMPASSED MANY DIFFERENT WARS AND EMBATTLEMENTS.

THERE IS THIS LEGACY OF PEOPLE WHO HAD SOMEBODY THAT SERVES AND THAT FEELS THAT IT'S SOMETHING THEY DO BECAUSE THEY'RE ENLIFTING OR DOING SOMETHING FOR THEIR FAMILY.

THERE'S PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY DID IT ON A WHIM, BUT IT WASN'T.

>> WHY DID YOU JOIN?

>> MY FATHER SERVED IN WORLD WAR II, WITH THE 1st DIVISION, AND RETIRED FROM THE ARMY THREE YEARS, SIX YEARS BEFORE I WAS EVEN BORN, SO ALL I HEARD WAS THE STORIES THAT HE TOLD, AND HE DIDN'T TELL A LOT OF STORIES, BUT AS I WAS GROWING UP, MY OLDEST SISTER JOINED THE ARMY DURING VIETNAM, AND I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT OFF TO COLLEGE AND DID MY FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE AND DECIDED COLLEGE WASN'T FOR ME AT THAT TIME, SO I DECIDED TO JOIN THE MILITARY.

JOIN THE NAVY, AND JENNIFER'S RIGHT.

YOUR REASON FOR JOINING INITIALLY IS ONE THING BUT THE REASON YOU STAY IS SOMETHING ELSE.

AND MANY VETERANS WILL TELL YOU THE REASON THEY SERVE IS FOR THE TROOPER TO THEIR RIGHT OR THEIR LEFT AND THE FAMILY THAT'S BEHIND THEM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I REALLY LIKE THAT.

ANOTHER QUESTION FROM FACEBOOK TONIGHT, AS A MILITARY SPOUSE, HOW DO I FIND TOOLS TO SUPPORT MYSELF AND OUR FAMILY?

>> IF THEY'RE CURRENTLY A MILITARY SPOUSE, MILITARY ONE SOURCE IS A TERRIFIC TOOL TO USE.

IT'S A WEBSITE AND A WHOLE SERIES OF SUPPORT MECHANISMS FOR MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILY.

>> WHAT WAS THE WEBSITE AGAIN?

>> MILITARY ONE SOURCE.COM.

>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

TO YOU AT HOME WATCHING.

I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW WE HAD A SLIGHT PHONE ISSUE A LITTLE WHILE AGO, IT'S BEEN RESOLVED, SO GO AHEAD, PICK UP THE PHONE.

THEY'RE WORKING NOW.

SO DON'T BE AFRAID TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND GIVE US A CALL.

THAT NUMBER SHOULD BE ON THE SCREEN, 844-975-3343.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS AFFECTED SO MANY OF US.

GIVEN THE CURRENT COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

WHAT HAPPENS TO G.I.

BILL BENEFITS IF SCHOOL WENT FROM IN-PERSON TO ONLINE CLASSES?

>> CONGRESS PASSED A LAW THAT IF THE MODALITY, OR THE WAY THAT THE COURSE WAS PRESENTED, CHANGED FROM FACE-TO-FACE, YOUR TYPICAL COLLEGE CLASSROOM TO AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT, THAT THE HOUSING STIPEND THAT COMES WITH POST-9/11 G.I.

BILL WOULD REMAIN AT THE FACE-TO-FACE VALUE.

THE HOUSING STIPEND FOR FACE-TO-FACE IS BASED ON E-5 WITH DEPENDENTS FOR THE ZIP CODE WHERE MOST OF THE CLASSES TAKE PLACE.

THE ONLINE STIPEND IS MUCH LOWER, BASED ON 50% OF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF THAT E-5 WITH DEPENDENTS.

>> OKAY.

>> SO MANY OF OUR COURSES HERE, ALL OF OUR COURSES HERE AT CMU WENT OVERNIGHT FROM FACE-TO-FACE COURSES TO ONLINE.

THE LAW ALLOWED FOR THAT HIGHER HOUSING STIPEND TO REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2020.

THEY RENEWED THAT LAW UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2021, THAT LAW WILL EXPIRE THE 20th OF DECEMBER 2021, BUT WE ARE BACK TO FACE-TO-FACE CLASSER AT CMU AND GENERALLY MOST UNIVERSITIES HAVE GONE BACK TO FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES.

>> VERY TRUE.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE G.I.

BENEFITS ARE ALWAYS CHANGING.

WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH THE CHANGES?

>> THE BEST WAY IS TO LIKE THE G.I.

BILL FACEBOOK PAGE.

THEY PUT UPDATES TO THE G.I.

BILL AND REMINDERS ABOUT THE G.I.

BILL DAILY ON THE FACEBOOK.

>> GOT IT.

ALL RIGHT.

ANOTHER QUESTION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE PERSON IS A RURAL VETERAN.

HOW DO THEY FIND THE NEAREST VA?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO TO, OBVIOUSLY, WEBSITES AND CAN YOU LOOK UP WHERE YOUR NEAREST VA IS OR THE OUTPATIENT CLINICS THAT ARE NEAR YOU.

IF YOU'RE RURAL, INTERNET IS TOUGH, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT WORKING.

YOU CAN CALL ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP.

MY ORGANIZATION, THE MICHIGAN VETERANS AFFAIRSARY, YOU CAN CALL 800-MICH-VET AND THEY CAN POINT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WHERE THE NEAREST LOCATION IS THEY CAN GET TREATMENT.

>> GOT IT.

ALL RIGHT.

BACK TO COVID-19.

IF A VETERAN LOST THEIR JOB DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, CAN THEY STILL GET EDUCATION OR JOB TRAINING FROM THE VA?

>> THERE IS A PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR COVID-19 JOB LOSSES, BUT IT DOES EXPIRE, I BELIEVE, AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

>> OKAY, GOTCHA.

WHAT TYPES OF CASH ASSISTANCE CAN TRANSITIONING SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS QUALIFY FOR?

DO WE KNOW?

>> DON'T QUITE KNOW THE QUESTION YOU'RE ASKING IS.

CASH ASSISTANCE.

>> ABOUT WHAT?

>> TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

>> JUST, FINANCIAL HELP.

>> SURE, I CAN NAME A FEW THINGS AND LEAD THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SOME OF THESE ARE RELATED TO COVID AS WELL, SO I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A NEW PROGRAM INITIATED CALLED FOOD FOR VETS, AND IT WAS $100 FOOD ONLY CARDS THAT YOU COULD USE AS MEYER'S OR SMART AND ASH OR OTHER GROCERY STORES ACROSS THE STATE.

RELIED ON THE FACT THAT NO VETERAN NEEDS TO HAVE AN EMPTY PANTRY.

IF THEY'RE EMPLOYED AND TOOK A STEP BACK, THEY CAN QUALIFY FOR THE CARD BY SAYING THEY HAVE A NEED FOR THIS.

THERE'S OTHER PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE OUT THERE THAT YOU COULD APPLY FOR.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT PROGRAM VETERANS WOULD QUALIFY FOR.

>> PROBABLY DIFFERENT FOR EVERYBODY.

>> UNFORTUNATELY OR FORTUNATELY THAT'S TRUE.

PRETTY MUCH A PROGRAM OR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT TO IT AND FIND THE RIGHT PROGRAM.

>> SURE, ARE VETERANS ABLE TO FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT?

.

>> OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> NEXT QUESTION IS CALLER, HOW CAN THEY UPGRADE THEIR UNDESIRABLE DISCHARGE TO HONORABLE?

>> THE EASIEST WAY, WHEN I SAY EASY, IT'S NOT EASY, THE ROUTE THIS CALLER IS GOING TO HAVE IS GOING TO BE ONE THAT IS AN UPHILL BATTLE BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND THIS CALLER.

CONNECTING WITH A VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER.

YOU CAN FIGURE OUT WHO COUNTY VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER IS BY GOING ONLINE AND GO TO THE MICHIGAN.GOV/MVAA AND LOOK UP VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER.

THEY CAN HELP GET THE DOCUMENTATION TOGETHER TO APPEAL TO GET YOUR DISCHARGE CHANGED.

THE DISCHARGE IS IMPORTANT FOR VETERANS BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE ONE THAT'S NOT WASN'T IN CLASS OF WHAT YOUR SERVICE WAS, IT REALLY COULD HAMPER WHAT BENEFITS, WHAT SERVICES YOU QUALIFY FOR INCLUDING THE EDUCATION BENEFITS YOU CAN GET.

SO THIS CALLER, I HOPE THEY SEEK UPGRADING THAT, IT IS AN UPHILL BATTLE BUT ONE WE'RE ALL BEHIND THE VETERANS TO GET THE BENEFITS TO THEM.

>> SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

NEXT QUESTION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

WHAT ARE SOME SIGNS TO LOOK FOR WHEN IT COMES TO PTSD?

>> I CAN ANSWER THAT.

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IS ONE OF THESE THINGS WE CAN SEE WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN IN A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE, AND WHAT YOU LOOK FOR TYPICALLY AND CLINICALLY OF COURSE, I'M NOT DIAGNOSING ANYBODY, ESPECIALLY THE CALLER CALLING IN.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING ABOUT A YEAR LATER, IF YOU'RE STILL HAVING AUDIO-VISUAL RECURRENCES OF THE SPECIFIC INCIDENT.

IF THERE'S SIGHTS, SOUNDS, SMELLS THAT BRING YOU BACK TO THAT, WHERE YOU ALMOST CAN'T DISTINGUISH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHERE YOU ARE NOW AND WHAT WAS THE TRIGGER TO THAT EVENT.

WE ALWAYS TRY TO STRESS VETERANS ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPOSED TO TRAUMATIC EVENTS AND VETERANS ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT HAVE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN AFFECT ANYBODY.

IN FACT, WE SEE INDIVIDUALS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES WHO AREN'T VETERANS.

PEOPLE IN CAR ACCIDENTS.

WE SEE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THOSE RESPONSES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND THE BIGGEST THING WE CAN ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHETHER YOU ARE A VETERAN OR NOT IS TREATMENT WORKS AND THERE IS TREATMENT OUT THERE.

IF SOMEONE IS SUFFERING FROM POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, SEEKING SOME HELP, MAKING SURE THEY'RE GETTING THAT DIAGNOSIS, AND THEN ALSO SEEKING TREATMENT BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE WAY YOU HAVE TO LIVE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TO GO ALONG WITH COVID TOO AND PTSD, EVERYBODY IS FEELING MORE STRESS, MORE ANXIOUS, MORE WORRIED DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE NUMBERS, BUT HOW HAS THAT IMPACTED VETERANS OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS?

>> I THINK IT'S HARD TO WEED OUT IF IT AFFECTS VETERANS OR EVERYBODY?

THIS IS SOMETHING NOBODY HAS BEEN THROUGH BEFORE.

I KEEP TELLING MY KIDS, WHAT IS THIS YOUR FIRST PANDEMIC?

LUCKILY IT IS.

BUT WHAT WE SEE IS A LOT OF ISOLATION AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COCOONING IN AND COCOONING IN INAPPROPRIATE WAYS.

FINDING WAYS TO REACH OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE BEGINNING, WE WERE DOING SOCIAL HOURS ON ZOOM, AND WE WERE REALLY CONNECTING AND GOT TIRED OF THAT.

AND SO WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHETHER YOU'RE A VETERAN OR NOT IS FINDING WAYS TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

WE'RE NOT MEANT TO BE ISOLATED ALL THE TIME.

WE ACTUALLY ARE MEANT TO BE IN COMPANY WITH OTHER PEOPLE SAFELY, IF YOU CAN DO SO.

>> WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES ARE THERE AVAILABLE FOR VETERANS LOOKING TO GET HELP FOR MENTAL HEALTH?

>> SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF RESOURCES THAT I CAN TALK ABOUT.

SO A VETERAN CAN GO TO LOCAL VA IF THEY QUALIFY FOR THIS, SOMETHING THAT NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT IS EMBEDDED IN COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE VETERAN NAVIGATORS.

TRAINED MENTAL HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT HELP VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE THEM AND ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

ONE OF MY OTHER FAVORITE ORGANIZATIONS TO TALK ABOUT IS AN ORGANIZATION CALLED GIVEN HOUR.

GIVEN HOUR HAS THIS REMARKABLE ABILITY TO FIND MENTAL HEALTH THERAPISTS IN THE COMMUNITY WILLING TO DONATE AN HOUR OF THEIR TIME PER WEEK FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO A VETERAN, A SERVICEMEMBER, THEIR FAMILY OR SOMEBODY INVOLVED IN A NATURAL DISASTER.

YOU CAN CONNECT WITH GIVEN HOUR, I DON'T HAVE THE WEBSITE ADDRESS BUT CAN YOU LOOK IT UP ONLINE.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.

>> A LOVELY PROGRAM AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED HARD TO BUILD A CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE TO GIVE BACK TO THOSE THAT HAVE GIVEN TO THEM.

SO IT IS SOMETHING, THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.

>> DWAYNE, QUESTION FOR YOU FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

WHAT ARE SOME GOOD DEGREES FOR VETERANS TO PURSUE HERE AT CMU?

>> WELL, EVERY DEGREE PROGRAM AT CMU IS RECOGNIZED BY THE VA AND ALLOWED.

IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO WHAT THE VETERAN IS INTERESTED IN.

THE OLD ADAGE IS FIND A JOB THAT YOU LOVE AND YOU'LL NEVER WORK A DAY IN YOUR LIFE.

IT'S THAT IMPORTANT, SEARCHING YOURSELF TO FIND THAT JOB THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

>> ALL RIGHT, A CALLER FROM BAY CITY.

HOW WILL THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN PAY FOR PHARMACEUTICAL COPAYS FOR VETERANS?

DO YOU HAVE -- >> UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT.

>> NOT FAMILIAR.

>> STICKING BACK TO MENTAL HEALTH.

SOMETIMES A VETERAN -- SOMETIMES GETTING A VETERAN TO SIMPLY ACKNOWLEDGE THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CAN BE DIFFICULT.

DO YOU HAVE TIPS HOW TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, LET'S BE CLEAR, YOU CAN BE STRUGGLING AND YOU CAN BE DOING REALLY WELL AND HAVE A NEED AND BENEFIT FROM SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH.

FROM MY ASPECT, IT'S A TOPDOWN APPROACH.

WE HAVE TO BE OPEN AND HONEST ABOUT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING WELL BENEFIT FROM SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH, HAVING A THERAPIST, SOMEBODY THAT CAN HELP WITH RESILIENCY TO MOVE FORWARD, AND TO BE OPEN AND HONEST ABOUT THAT AND BREAK DOWN THE STIGMAS, THE STRONGEST PERSON IS THE PERSON THAT ASKS FOR HELP.

WHEN I'M TALKING WITH VETERANS WHO MIGHT BE RESISTANT TO SEEKING SOME OF THAT, REMINDING A VETERAN OF WHAT YOUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP USED TO BE LIKE AND WHAT YOU USED TO BE LIKE AS A LEADER.

THE STRONGEST PERSON ASKS FOR HELP AND DOESN'T DO IT ALONE.

IF THERE IS A VETERAN THAT IS STRUGGLING, ASK FOR HELP, SEEK HELP.

I SAY THIS OFTEN, BUT THERE IS HELP OUT THERE, AND IT DOES WORK.

>> AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK TO SOMEONE, ANYONE.

TALK TO A FRIEND.

START THERE.

BE COMFORTABLE WITH TALKING ABOUT IT AND THEN MOVE YOUR WAY UP TO SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE MORE SUPPORT YOU CAN FIND DOING THAT, IT EMPOWERS YOU TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP.

LAST QUESTION IS HOW DO I FIND MY VETERAN'S NUMBER?

MAYBE LIKE A VA OFFICE NUMBER?

MAYBE A GOOGLE SEARCH?

>> ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT FINDING THE VA PHONE NUMBER?

>> MAYBE.

>> PROBABLY A GOOGLE SEARCH.

THE VETERAN AFFAIRS WEBSITE IS EXTENSIVE.

THERE IS LOTS AND LOTS OF INFORMATION THERE AS WELL AS ON THE MVAA WEBSITE.

>> OKAY.

MAYBE WE CAN GET THIS QUICK QUESTION IN HERE, TOO.

SOMEONE IS WONDERING WHAT IS GREAT ORGANIZATION TO MAKE A DONATION TO HELP VETERANS HERE?

DO YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON GOOD ORGANIZATIONS SOMEONE CAN DONATE OR CONTRIBUTE TO?

>> THERE IS A WIDE VARIETY OF VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS, AND SO YOU PROBABLY WANT TO STICK WITH THOSE THAT YOU'VE HEARD OF.

THE VFWs, THE AMERICAN LEGIONS, THE ONE THAT'S COME UP SINCE THE MOST RECENT CONFLICTS IS THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS ASSOCIATION.

SO FINDING ONE THAT IS RECOGNIZED AND TALK TO OTHER VETERANS ABOUT WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS.

>> GOTCHA.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE ARE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

DWAYNE AND JENNIFER, THANK YOU, BOTH FOR MAKING THE DRIVE TONIGHT TO BE IN THE PROGRAM.

WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL NOT BE LIVE NEXT THURSDAY, BUT WE HOPE YOU WILL STICK AROUND FOR A VERY INFORMATIONAL PROGRAM ON TYPE-2 DIABETES.

ALL NEW LIVE EPISODES OF ASK THE SPECIALIST WILL RETURN IN 2022.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT WCMU, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE STATION.

AND LASTLY, TO OUR VETERANS, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.

WE'RE STRONGER, WE ARE SAFER BECAUSE OF YOU AND WISHING YOU ALL A PEACEFUL AND THOUGHTFUL VETERANS DAY.

GOOD NIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪